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Original poster

To ask you to name a book you couldn't put down?

252 replies

pinklite · 21/08/2024 16:11

I've started getting into reading again and now looking for book recommendations. I don't know if it's just me not enjoying reading as much as I used to, but some of the titles I've read/attempted to recently just don't seem to grab my attention and I struggle to get through them.

I'm currently reading People Like Her by Ellery Lloyd. It's ok, but a bit slow.

I prefer mysteries and thrillers.

Please give me some ideas!

OP posts:
Grmumpy · 21/08/2024 18:42

My Sister The Serial Killer.

Amberpants · 21/08/2024 18:41

I like M.J. Arlidge’s DI Helen Grace books

PeachRose1986 · 21/08/2024 18:41

Homecoming-Kate Morton

Gawjus · 21/08/2024 18:39

The Robots' Rebellion

littlehorsesthatrun · 21/08/2024 18:38

The Lisa Jewel books are so good for fun mysteries/ page turners. I’ve read 3 this summer- i really like The Night She Disappeared- not finished it yet

cariadlet · 21/08/2024 18:37

Antonia Hodgson was mentioned earlier. I recently reread A Devil in the Marshalsea and then read the 3 sequels. They're page turning thrillers which are set in the 18th century. She's brilliant at evoking time and place as well as being an excellent plotter.

I've just finished The Wonder by Emma Donoghue. Started one evening and finished it the next morning. Couldn't put it down.

It's very different - set post Crimea, an English nurse sent to a poor Irish village to watch over a young girl who is said to have survived for months without eating.

It's a slow start because it gives the reader lots of time to get to know the characters and to understand the culture.
I enjoyed that part anyway but would encourage anyone who likes faster paced books to persist because you get to a point where there's revelation after revelation and a lot of tension about how things can be resolved.

PermanentlyFullLaundryBasket · 21/08/2024 18:33

Salome61 · 21/08/2024 17:26

Wolf Hall trilogy by Hilary Mantell.

I cannot get on with these at all!
H gave me them for Christmas. I have struggled to get halfway through Wolf Hall. Please tell me it is going to improve at some point. I don't want to give up on them, but oh god, it is tedious.

Mistycactus · 21/08/2024 18:31

I’ve recently started I am Pilgrim and am finding it a bit hard to get into and I’m not finding it easy to follow what’s happening.
I take it I should persevere!

Seconding the suggestions of:
American Dirt
The Heart’s Invisible Furies
Strike series

I also recently enjoyed the Nightingale

Homemadearmy · 21/08/2024 18:28

I love John Marrs books they are quite twisty. Harlon Corben books are all really good. Twisty but not overly graphic. I loved Lee Childs Jack reacher series

SerafinasGoose · 21/08/2024 18:21

Also - Some Must Watch by Ethel Lina White. Like a fantastic game of Cluedo!

SerafinasGoose · 21/08/2024 18:20

Sally Morgan, My Place
Shirley Jackson, The Haunting of Hill House
Djuna Barnes, Nightwood

NomenNudum · 21/08/2024 18:20

Barbara Abel, Mothers Instinct

Newname71 · 21/08/2024 18:18

Labarynth by Kate Mosse. It’s a brilliant read set in 2 time periods. It’s by far my most favourite book ever. I read on my kindle now but have kept my paperback copy of this one.

Moversnotshakers · 21/08/2024 18:18

Martina cole. The Ladykiller is a page turner. I loved this. Read most of hers but this one stands out.

PetrichorSoul · 21/08/2024 18:16

Cormoran Strike books by Robert Galbraith aka JK Rowling

Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas

TheFormidableMrsC · 21/08/2024 18:15

Any Lisa Jewell or Gillian McAllister books. All absolute page turners!

Tallullahmakata · 21/08/2024 18:10

MaybeImbad · 21/08/2024 18:01

Good page turners recently for me were

Broken Harbour by Tana French
Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent
Hunted by Abir Mukherjee

(As a pp said it’s all subjective - I also love the Richard Osman Thursday Murder Club books and imo think people can be a bit snobby about them - they’re more cosy crime than thriller)

The Thursday Murder Club books are the Midsomer Murders of literature. Cosy is exactly the word!

Choochoo21 · 21/08/2024 18:09

Verity by Colleen Hoover.

I hadn’t read for a while and was struggling to get back into it.

Someone recommended it and I honestly couldn’t put it down!

Nanalisa60 · 21/08/2024 18:05

Just finished seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo , really enjoyed it , great holiday read

noworklifebalance · 21/08/2024 18:02

Great thread

Day of the Jackal
The Godfather

MaybeImbad · 21/08/2024 18:01

Good page turners recently for me were

Broken Harbour by Tana French
Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent
Hunted by Abir Mukherjee

(As a pp said it’s all subjective - I also love the Richard Osman Thursday Murder Club books and imo think people can be a bit snobby about them - they’re more cosy crime than thriller)

Cattery · 21/08/2024 18:00

xxSideshowAuntSallyxx · 21/08/2024 17:36

It's the first one I've read, definitely going to get the others. What I meant was some books I've really struggled with recently, I love the Shetland books but really struggled with the one I've just finished (took me 6 months). The first Morse one has been the complete opposite.

Show quote history

Ah yes. I struggled with one of the Shetland books earlier this year; in fact I gave up. Badly written and well, boring to be honest. Glad you’re enjoying Morse. X

PrincessScarlett · 21/08/2024 17:59

Another one who was very disappointed with Thursday Murder Club. I really like Richard Osman and thought he would have written much better than he actually does.

chillycat · 21/08/2024 17:59

Strange Sally Diamond
Anything by Jeanette Winterson
Midnight Library
Wuthering Heights
Anything by Jane Harper
Shardlake series
Anything by Erin Kelly
Anything by Jeffry Archer

Ballymolly · 21/08/2024 17:57

Sparkletastic · 21/08/2024 16:21

Have you tried the Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman? They are a great read if you want a page turner that isn't too taxing.

Do not recommend these at all, they are so dreadful on so many levels.

I just read my first Stephen King book, Carrie, and although it wouldn't be written today, I enjoyed it and got through it in 2/3 days. It's a quickie.